וְהַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים וַיְכַסֻּהוּ בַּבְּגָדִים וְלֹא יִחַם לוֹ

King David was old, advanced in years. Although he was only about seventy, the trials and tribulations of his life had caused him to age early. They covered him in garments, blankets and quilts, but he would not be warmed. This was one of the signs of his old age. Coverings do not create heat but merely preserve the body’s own warmth. David’s body was insufficiently healthy to produce the heat he needed.

וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ עֲבָדָיו יְבַקְשׁוּ לַאדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ נַעֲרָה בְתוּלָה וְעָמְדָה לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וּתְהִי לוֹ סֹכֶנֶת וְשָׁכְבָה בְחֵיקֶךָ וְחַם לַאדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ

His servants said to him: Have them seek for my lord the king a young virgin; she will stand before the king to serve him in an official capacity, and she will be an attendant for him, taking care of his daily needs. Additionally, the real reason for her appointment is that she will lie in your bosom and warm your bed, and it will thereby be warm for my lord the king.

וַיְבַקְשׁוּ נַעֲרָה יָפָה בְּכֹל גְּבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּמְצְאוּ אֶת אֲבִישַׁג הַשּׁוּנַמִּית וַיָּבִאוּ אֹתָהּ לַמֶּלֶךְ

They sought for this purpose a beautiful young woman within the entire border of Israel, and they found Avishag the Shunamite, from the city of Shunem, and brought her to the king. Although Avishag’s beauty was not necessary for her task, nevertheless David’s servants searched for a pretty woman, as everything surrounding the king should be aesthetically pleasing.

וְהַנַּעֲרָה יָפָה עַד מְאֹד וַתְּהִי לַמֶּלֶךְ סֹכֶנֶת וַתְּשָׁרְתֵהוּ וְהַמֶּלֶךְ לֹא יְדָעָהּ

The young woman was exceedingly beautiful, and she became an attendant for the king and she served him, but the king was not intimate with her. He did not engage in relations with her, perhaps because he was too old and frail.

ואֲדֹנִיָּה בֶן חַגִּית מִתְנַשֵּׂא לֵאמֹר אֲנִי אֶמְלֹךְ וַיַּעַשׂ לוֹ רֶכֶב וּפָרָשִׁים וַחֲמִשִּׁים אִישׁ רָצִים לְפָנָיו

In the meantime, Adoniya son of David from his wife Hagit exalted himself, saying: I will become king, as I am the rightful heir to the throne. He provided for himself chariots, horsemen, and fifty men running before him to announce his arrival.

וְלֹא עֲצָבוֹ אָבִיו מִיָּמָיו לֵאמֹר מַדּוּעַ כָּכָה עָשִׂיתָ וְגַם הוּא טוֹב תֹּאַר מְאֹד וְאֹתוֹ יָלְדָה אַחֲרֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם

In a parenthetical aside, the verse provides a few explanations for Adoniya assuming the trappings of the monarchy: His father never distressed him, saying: Why did you do so? David had never chastised or disciplined Adoniya when he acted improperly. Moreover, he, Adoniya, was of very good form, a handsome man. His external appearance reinforced his self-confidence and his belief that he was destined for greatness. And the verse offers a third reason for his claim to the throne, namely that she, Hagit, bore him after Avshalom. Avshalom and Adoniya were not maternal brothers; the verse simply means that Adoniya was the next oldest brother, after Avshalom. Consequently, after the two eldest sons in the family, Amnon and Avshalom, had been killed, Adoniya was David’s oldest surviving son.

וַיִּהְיוּ דְבָרָיו עִם יוֹאָב בֶּן צְרוּיָה וְעִם אֶבְיָתָר הַכֹּהֵן וַיַּעְזְרוּ אַחֲרֵי אֲדֹנִיָּה

Adoniya sought to enlist the support of certain prominent individuals in his design to ascend the throne: He consulted with Yoav son of Tzeruya and with Evyatar the priest, and they supported Adoniya.

וְצָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן וּבְנָיָהוּ בֶן יְהוֹיָדָע וְנָתָן הַנָּבִיא וְשִׁמְעִי וְרֵעִי וְהַגִּבּוֹרִים אֲשֶׁר לְדָוִד לֹא הָיוּ עִם אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ

But Tzadok the priest, who was also a prominent priest like Evyatar, Benayahu son of Yehoyada, the commander of the Keretites and the Peletites, Natan the prophet, Shimi and Re’i, two of David’s men, and the mighty men who were with David, all these were not with Adoniyahu. These men did not oppose Adoniya actively, but they refused to endorse him as long as the king had not stated his opinion. Although Benayahu was subordinate to Yoav, who was the commander-in-chief of the army, since he was the commander of a separate military unit, he could act independently.

וַיִּזְבַּח אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ צֹאן וּבָקָר וּמְרִיא עִם אֶבֶן הַזֹּחֶלֶת אֲשֶׁר אֵצֶל עֵין רֹגֵל וַיִּקְרָא אֶת כָּל אֶחָיו בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וּלְכָל אַנְשֵׁי יְהוּדָה עַבְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ

One day, Adoniyahu slaughtered sheep and oxen and fatlings at the Zohelet stone, which means the dragged stone, or the stone alongside which water flows, which is located near Ein Rogel, a spring near Jerusalem, and he called all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants, to participate in his celebration;

אֶת נָתָן הַנָּבִיא וּבְנָיָהוּ וְאֶת הַגִּבּוֹרִים וְאֶת שְׁלֹמֹה אָחִיו לֹא קָרָא

but he did not call Natan the prophet, Benayahu, the mighty men of David, and Solomon his brother, as Adoniya knew that they did not support him, and he also suspected that Solomon considered himself to be the heir to the throne.

וַיֹּאמֶר נָתָן אֶל בַת שֶׁבַע אֵם שְׁלֹמֹה לֵאמֹר הֲלוֹא שָׁמַעַתְּ כִּי מָלַךְ אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ בֶן חַגִּית וַאֲדֹנֵינוּ דָוִד לֹא יָדָע

Natan spoke to Bathsheba, mother of Solomon, saying: Have you not heard that Adoniyahu son of Hagit has in effect become king, and David our lord does not know?

וְעַתָּה לְכִי אִיעָצֵךְ נָא עֵצָה ומַלְּטִי אֶת נַפְשֵׁךְ וְאֶת נֶפֶשׁ בְּנֵךְ שְׁלֹמֹה

Now go, let me please counsel you, and you will thereby save your life, and the life of your son Solomon. Since the crown was promised to Solomon, it is clear that Adoniya will try to eliminate him, and perhaps you, his mother, as well.

לְכִי וּבֹאִי אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד וְאָמַרְתְּ אֵלָיו הֲלֹא אַתָּה אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לַאֲמָתְךָ לֵאמֹר כִּי שְׁלֹמֹה בְנֵךְ יִמְלֹךְ אַחֲרַי וְהוּא יֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאִי וּמַדּוּעַ מָלַךְ אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ

Natan advised Bathsheba: Go and come to King David, and say to him: Did you not, my lord the king, take an oath to your maidservant, saying: Solomon your son will become king after me, and he will sit upon my throne? Why has Adoniyahu become king?

הִנֵּה עוֹדָךְ מְדַבֶּרֶת שָׁם עִם הַמֶּלֶךְ וַאֲנִי אָבוֹא אַחֲרַיִךְ וּמִלֵּאתִי אֶת דְּבָרָיִךְ

Behold, while you are still speaking there with the king, I will come after you, and I will complete your words. When confronted with two sources verifying this information and suggesting action, David will take the steps necessary to prevent the coronation of Adoniya and to crown Solomon instead.

וַתָּבֹא בַת שֶׁבַע אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ הַחַדְרָה וְהַמֶּלֶךְ זָקֵן מְאֹד וַאֲבִישַׁג הַשּׁוּנַמִּית מְשָׁרַת אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ

Bathsheba came to the king, into the chamber; the king was very old; he appeared weak and was probably lying in bed. And Avishag the Shunamite was serving the king. She was the king’s personal caregiver who attended to all his needs, and in practice she was the person closest to him.

וַתִּקֹּד בַּת שֶׁבַע וַתִּשְׁתַּחוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ מַה לָּךְ

Bathsheba bowed, and prostrated herself to the king, and the king said: What happened to you? What is the matter?

וַתֹּאמֶר לוֹ אֲדֹנִי אַתָּה נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ בַּה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לַאֲמָתֶךָ כִּי שְׁלֹמֹה בְנֵךְ יִמְלֹךְ אַחֲרָי וְהוּא יֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאִי

She said to him: My lord, you took an oath by the Lord your God to your maidservant, to me, saying: Solomon your son will become king after me, and he will sit upon my throne.

וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה אֲדֹנִיָּה מָלָךְ וְעַתָּה אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ לֹא יָדָעְתָּ

Now behold, Adoniya has become king; and now, my lord the king, you did not know.

וַיִּזְבַּח שׁוֹר וּמְרִיא וְצֹאן לָרֹב וַיִּקְרָא לְכָל בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וּלְאֶבְיָתָר הַכֹּהֵן וּלְיֹאָב שַׂר הַצָּבָא וְלִשְׁלֹמֹה עַבְדְּךָ לֹא קָרָא

He has slaughtered bulls, fatlings, and sheep in abundance. He has held a great celebration in honor of his ascent to the throne, and summoned all the sons of the king, and Evyatar the priest, and Yoav commander of the army, but Solomon your servant he did not summon. Evidently, these are not innocent festivities, but a coronation.

וְאַתָּה אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ עֵינֵי כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל עָלֶיךָ לְהַגִּיד לָהֶם מִי יֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אַחֲרָיו

And you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you, to tell them who will sit upon the throne of my lord the king after him. You must decide; if you do not take action, Adoniya will take the throne.

וְהָיָה כִּשְׁכַב אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ עִם אֲבֹתָיו וְהָיִיתִי אֲנִי וּבְנִי שְׁלֹמֹה חַטָּאִים

It will be that when my lord the king lies with his fathers, when you die, I and my son Solomon will be deprived. If you do not state your preference now, we will suffer later.

וְהִנֵּה עוֹדֶנָּה מְדַבֶּרֶת עִם הַמֶּלֶךְ וְנָתָן הַנָּבִיא בָּא

Behold, while she was still talking with the king, Natan the prophet came into the chamber, as planned.

וַיַּגִּידוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה נָתָן הַנָּבִיא וַיָּבֹא לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ עַל אַפָּיו אָרְצָה

They, David’s servants, told the king, saying: Behold, it is Natan the prophet. He, Natan, came before the king and prostrated himself to the king on his face to the ground, a standard courtesy honoring the head of state, who must be respected and feared by all.

וַיֹּאמֶר נָתָן אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ יִמְלֹךְ אַחֲרָי וְהוּא יֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאִי

Natan said: My lord the king, did you say: Adoniyahu will become king after me, and he will sit upon my throne?

כִּי יָרַד הַיּוֹם וַיִּזְבַּח שׁוֹר וּמְרִיא וְצֹאן לָרֹב וַיִּקְרָא לְכָל בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וּלְשָׂרֵי הַצָּבָא וּלְאֶבְיָתָר הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנָּם אֹכְלִים וְשֹׁתִים לְפָנָיו וַיֹּאמְרוּ יְחִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ

For he, Adoniya, went down today to the spring, and he slaughtered bulls, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and he summoned all the king’s sons, and the commanders of the army, and Evyatar the priest; here they are, eating and drinking before him, and they are saying: Long live King Adoniyahu.

וְלִי אֲנִי עַבְדֶּךָ וּלְצָדֹק הַכֹּהֵן וְלִבְנָיָהוּ בֶן יְהוֹיָדָע וְלִשְׁלֹמֹה עַבְדְּךָ לֹא קָרָא

Natan added: But me, your servant, and Tzadok the priest, and Benayahu son of Yehoyada, and your servant Solomon, he did not summon to the festivities.

אִם מֵאֵת אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ נִהְיָה הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וְלֹא הוֹדַעְתָּ אֶת עַבְדְּךָ מִי יֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אַחֲרָיו

Is it from my lord the king that this matter came to be, and you did not inform your servant who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him? Alternatively, this is a statement rather than a question: I am surprised that you have not declared to your servant who will be the next king.

וַיַּעַן הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד וַיֹּאמֶר קִרְאוּ לִי לְבַת שָׁבַע וַתָּבֹא לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וַתַּעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ

King David answered and said: Summon Bathsheba to me. Apparently, Bathsheba had left the room upon the prophet’s entrance. She came before the king and stood before the king.

וַיִּשָּׁבַע הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמַר חַי ה' אֲשֶׁר פָּדָה אֶת נַפְשִׁי מִכָּל צָרָה

The king took an oath and said: As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul from every trouble,

כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לָךְ בַּה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר כִּי שְׁלֹמֹה בְנֵךְ יִמְלֹךְ אַחֲרַי וְהוּא יֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאִי תַּחְתָּי כִּי כֵּן אֶעֱשֶׂה הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה

for as I previously took an oath to you by the Lord, God of Israel, saying that Solomon your son will become king after me, and he will sit upon my throne in my stead; so I will do this day. I will take steps today to ensure that he will reign after me.

וַתִּקֹּד בַּת שֶׁבַע אַפַּיִם אֶרֶץ וַתִּשְׁתַּחוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ וַתֹּאמֶר יְחִי אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד לְעֹלָם

Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and she prostrated herself to the king as a sign of gratitude, and she said: May my lord, King David, live forever. This standard declaration to the king had a poignant meaning here: I wish that you would live forever and would not need an heir, but I thank you for your promise.

וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד קִרְאוּ לִי לְצָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן וּלְנָתָן הַנָּבִיא וְלִבְנָיָהוּ בֶּן יְהוֹיָדָע וַיָּבֹאוּ לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ

King David said: Summon me Tzadok the priest, Natan the prophet, and Benayahu son of Yehoyada. They all came before the king.

וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לָהֶם קְחוּ עִמָּכֶם אֶת עַבְדֵי אֲדֹנֵיכֶם וְהִרְכַּבְתֶּם אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה בְנִי עַל הַפִּרְדָּה אֲשֶׁר לִי וְהוֹרַדְתֶּם אֹתוֹ אֶל גִּחוֹן

The king said to them: Take with you the servants of your lord, my servants, mount Solomon my son upon my own mule as a sign that I have authorized this act, and take him down to the Gihon Spring.

וּמָשַׁח אֹתוֹ שָׁם צָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן וְנָתָן הַנָּבִיא לְמֶלֶךְ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וּתְקַעְתֶּם בַּשּׁוֹפָר וַאֲמַרְתֶּם יְחִי הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה

Tzadok the priest and Natan the prophet, anoint him there as king over Israel. The priest will anoint and bless Solomon, while the presence of the prophet will serve to confirm that the appointment is in accordance with the will of God. You shall sound the shofar and say: Long live King Solomon.

וַעֲלִיתֶם אַחֲרָיו וּבָא וְיָשַׁב עַל כִּסְאִי וְהוּא יִמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּי וְאֹתוֹ צִוִּיתִי לִהְיוֹת נָגִיד עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל יְהוּדָה

You shall then go up after him to my house, and he shall come and sit upon my throne and shall reign in my stead; it is he I have commanded to be ruler over Israel and over Judah after me.

וַיַּעַן בְּנָיָהוּ בֶן יְהוֹיָדָע אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר אָמֵן כֵּן יֹאמַר ה' אֱלֹהֵי אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ

Benayahu son of Yehoyada answered the king and said: Amen; and so may the Lord, God of my lord the king, say. May it be God’s will that this be done.

כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיָה ה' עִם אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ כֵּן יִהְיֶ עִם שְׁלֹמֹה וִיגַדֵּל אֶת כִּסְאוֹ מִכִּסֵּא אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד

As the Lord has been with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon, and may He render his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David. A blessing of this kind can be offered to a king only with regard to his own son, as a father is proud when his son is more successful than himself.

וַיֵּרֶד צָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן וְנָתָן הַנָּבִיא וּבְנָיָהוּ בֶן יְהוֹיָדָע וְהַכְּרֵתִי וְהַפְּלֵתִי וַיַּרְכִּבוּ אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה עַל פִּרְדַּת הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד וַיֹּלִכוּ אֹתוֹ עַל גִּחוֹן

Tzadok the priest, Natan the prophet, Benayahu son of Yehoyada, and the Keretites and the Peletites, the king’s personal guard under Benayahu’s command, went down and mounted Solomon upon King David’s mule, and they led him to the Gihon Spring, near Jerusalem. The military presence served to both protect the parade and to give it a ceremonial atmosphere. It is likely that until that point Solomon had mostly stayed in the palace and was not well known to the public. An organized military procession would impress the people and attract a larger crowd to the event.

וַיִּקַּח צָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן אֶת קֶרֶן הַשֶּׁמֶן מִן הָאֹהֶל וַיִּמְשַׁח אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה וַיִּתְקְעוּ בַּשּׁוֹפָר וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָּל הָעָם יְחִי הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה

Tzadok the priest took the horn of oil, which contained the specially designated anointing oil, from the tent that David had erected in his city, and which housed the Ark of God, and he anointed Solomon with that oil. They sounded the shofar, and all the people said: Long live King Solomon.

וַיַּעֲלוּ כָל הָעָם אַחֲרָיו וְהָעָם מְחַלְּלִים בַּחֲלִלִים וּשְׂמֵחִים שִׂמְחָה גְדוֹלָה וַתִּבָּקַע הָאָרֶץ בְּקוֹלָם

All the people went up after him from the spring, and the people were playing flutes, and rejoicing with great joy, and the earth split from their sound; it shook from the tremendous noise. Unlike Adoniya’s subversive ceremony, to which only select individuals were invited, the entire people participated in the coronation of Solomon.

וַיִּשְׁמַע אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ וְכָל הַקְּרֻאִים אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ והֵם כִּלּוּ לֶאֱכֹל וַיִּשְׁמַע יוֹאָב אֶת קוֹל הַשּׁוֹפָר וַיֹּאמֶר מַדּוּעַ קוֹל הַקִּרְיָה הוֹמָה

Adoniyahu and all those summoned who were with him heard the commotion as they finished eating. Yoav heard the sound of the shofar from afar and said: Why is the sound of the city tumultuous? What is going on over there?

עוֹדֶנּוּ מְדַבֵּר וְהִנֵּה יוֹנָתָן בֶּן אֶבְיָתָר הַכֹּהֵן בָּא וַיֹּאמֶר אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ בֹּא כִּי אִישׁ חַיִל אַתָּה וטוֹב תְּבַשֵּׂר

He was still speaking, and behold, Yonatan son of Evyatar the priest came. Adoniyahu said: Come, as you are a man of valor, and you are certainly one who will bring good tidings. On an earlier occasion, David had used a similar expression at the approach of Ahimaatz son of Tzadok.

וַיַּעַן יוֹנָתָן וַיֹּאמֶר לַאֲדֹנִיָּהוּ אֲבָל אֲדֹנֵינוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד הִמְלִיךְ אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה

Yonatan answered and said to Adoniyahu: But this time I cannot offer you good tidings, as our lord King David has crowned Solomon king.

וַיִּשְׁלַח אִתּוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת צָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן וְאֶת נָתָן הַנָּבִיא וּבְנָיָהוּ בֶּן יְהוֹיָדָע וְהַכְּרֵתִי וְהַפְּלֵתִי וַיַּרְכִּבוּ אֹתוֹ עַל פִּרְדַּת הַמֶּלֶךְ

The king sent with him Tzadok the priest, Natan the prophet, Benayahu son of Yehoyada, and the Keretites and the Peletites, and they mounted him upon the king’s mule. The king would have placed on his mule only someone to whom he is handing over all his royal authority. Moreover, David also sent with him his priest, the prophet, and the army.

וַיִּמְשְׁחוּ אֹתוֹ צָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן וְנָתָן הַנָּבִיא לְמֶלֶךְ בְּגִחוֹן וַיַּעֲלוּ מִשָּׁם שְׂמֵחִים וַתֵּהֹם הַקִּרְיָה הוּא הַקּוֹל אֲשֶׁר שְׁמַעְתֶּם

Tzadok the priest and Natan the prophet anointed him as king at Gihon; they went up from there rejoicing, and the city is tumultuous. There is a commotion in the city, due to the exuberant cries of the people. That is the sound that you heard.

וְגַם יָשַׁב שְׁלֹמֹה עַל כִּסֵּא הַמְּלוּכָה

Also, Solomon is seated on the royal throne in the presence of the people.

וְגַם בָּאוּ עַבְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ לְבָרֵךְ אֶת אֲדֹנֵינוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד לֵאמֹר יֵיטֵב אֱלֹהִים אֶת שֵׁם שְׁלֹמֹה מִשְּׁמֶךָ וִיגַדֵּל אֶת כִּסְאוֹ מִכִּסְאֶךָ וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל הַמִּשְׁכָּב

Also, the king’s servants came to bless our lord King David, saying: May your God render the renown of Solomon better than your renown, and render his throne greater than your throne; and the king prostrated himself upon the bed, as a sign of gratitude for their blessings.

וְגַם כָּכָה אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ בָּרוּךְ ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר נָתַן הַיּוֹם יֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאִי וְעֵינַי רֹאוֹת

This too, the king said: Blessed is the Lord, God of Israel, who has granted today that there be one sitting on my throne, and my eyes are seeing it, in my lifetime.

וַיֶּחֶרְדוּ וַיָּקֻמוּ כָּל הַקְּרֻאִים אֲשֶׁר לַאֲדֹנִיָּהוּ וַיֵּלְכוּ אִישׁ לְדַרְכּוֹ

Upon hearing this report, all those summoned by Adoniyahu trembled and rose, and each went on his way. They all dispersed immediately, as they realized that the king was highly displeased with their actions.

וַאֲדֹנִיָּהוּ יָרֵא מִפְּנֵי שְׁלֹמֹה וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיַּחֲזֵק בְּקַרְנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ

Adoniyahu was afraid of Solomon, that he might consider him a traitor; he rose and went, and grasped the horns of the altar, as a sign that he was requesting refuge.

וַיֻּגַּד לִשְׁלֹמֹה לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ יָרֵא אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה וְהִנֵּה אָחַז בְּקַרְנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לֵאמֹר יִשָּׁבַע לִי כַיּוֹם הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה אִם יָמִית אֶת עַבְדּוֹ בֶּחָרֶב

It was told to Solomon, saying: Behold, Adoniyahu fears King Solomon, and behold, he has grasped the horns of the altar, saying: Let King Solomon take an oath to me this day that he will not put his servant, myself, to death by the sword.

וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁלֹמֹה אִם יִהְיֶה לְבֶן חַיִל לֹא יִפֹּל מִשַּׂעֲרָתוֹ אָרְצָה אִם רָעָה תִמָּצֵא בוֹ וָמֵת

Solomon said: If he, Adoniyahu, will be honorable and loyal, not a hair of his will fall to the ground, as he will not be harmed; but if any evil will be found in him, if he does not accept my rule, or shows any indications of rebellion, he will die.

וַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה וַיֹּרִדֻהוּ מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וַיָּבֹא וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ שְׁלֹמֹה לֵךְ לְבֵיתֶךָ

King Solomon sent, and they took him, Adoniyahu, down from the altar. He came and he prostrated himself to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him: You may go to your house. If you do not initiate a revolt, I will do you no harm.